Outside the hall, Jian Dan felt her eyelid twitch. She quickly rubbed her forehead and muttered under her breath, "Feels like bad luck."
To her surprise, Jian Sheng actually greeted her with a rare smile.
"Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ, this way please. Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ is waiting for you in the side hall."
Jian Dan glanced at him, a little suspicious."Is something good happening today? You seem to be in a pretty good mood."
Jian Sheng's expression didn't waver. "Exactly because nothing's happening, I'm in a good mood. If something were happening, Interrogation Hall would be swamped."
Yue Liang had returned to her miniature form and stood perched on Jian Dan's shoulder, lazily flicking her tail as she sent a private message. "Zhūnzhǔ, be careful. His smile feels... very sneaky."
Jian Dan found it amusing, but she agreed with Yue Liang's intuition. Beasts had a much keener sense of emotion and environment than human cultivators.
"Well then, if soldiers come, block with generals. If floods come, stop with earth."
In the side hall, Jian Li had dressed unusually casual today. Tea was already prepared on the table. As soon as Jian Dan entered, he gestured for her to sit.
"Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ, how did you know I was coming today?"
"Why still so distant? We're equals in cultivation now. Just call me Senior Brother."
At those words, Jian Dan's eyelid twitched again.
Yue Liang jumped off her shoulder and sat properly on the jade table, big round eyes fixed on Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ.
Seeing how their reactions were so in sync, Jian Li found it funny as well. Their alertness was no joke.
"Jian Lu, didn't you come to see me? What's the matter?"
Jian Dan nodded. She had come to see Jian Li, though it somehow felt like she was delivering herself into a trap.
"There's something I wanted to ask. I had some free time today, so I took Yue Liang around the market. Didn't expect someone to get ideas about her. That kind of ruined my mood."
Now it was Jian Li's turn for his eyelid to twitch.
"Which peak was it? If it's someone that bad, you could've just asked Jian Sheng."
Jian Dan took a sip of tea, patted Yue Liang's head, and said, "He said he's from Tianjian Peak. Name's Pi Yao. There was another one, Fu Yao. Jian Ning was with them, said Fu Yao was her junior sister. Funny, I've never seen Jian Ning with such a clueless junior sister before."
Jian Li lifted his teacup and took a long sip to hide the amused twitch of his lips before answering,"Pi Yao is Jian Wan's registered disciple. Fu Yao is from her clan. Sent to cultivate at Tianjian Peak and later formally accepted by Jian Wan. Technically, that does make her Jian Ning's junior sister."
Jian Dan clearly remembered Jian Wan Zhūnzhǔ. That rigid woman had reminded her of a school disciplinarian when she returned as Mo Yue and met with Tian Yun Zhēnzūn.
"Ah... poor Jian Ning."
She sighed, then asked, "The sect-wide competition is over. Pi Yao's been all over the market looking for a spirit beast to help in the inter-sect competition. Was his win really that shaky?"
Jian Li shook his head. He gave it straight. "He was awarded one of the five reserved spots."
"Oh."
Jian Dan nodded in understanding. Yue Liang quietly asked through voice transmission, "Zhūnzhǔ, does 'reserved' mean he doesn't need to fight anymore?"
"Yes. It's what people call 'taking the back door.'"
"Yue Liang doesn't understand."
"It means he has someone backing him, so he can skip the normal process."
"Yue Liang understands. So it's because he has no real skill!"
"Smart girl."
"Zhūnzhǔ, Yue Liang wants to take the back door too."
"You don't need to. You're strong and beautiful. No need to lower yourself like that."
The private conversation between one person and one pet was completely overheard by Jian Li.
He cleared his throat. Jian Dan wasn't fazed. She casually refilled his tea.
"Don't worry. No one dares lay a finger on Yue Liang. But if this upset you, feel free to return the favor... by upsetting their master."
Jian Li followed along with a smile. "You're thinking too deeply, but not wrong. Their Master could use a little discomfort."
Jian Dan raised a brow. That was a trap if she'd ever heard one. But instead of rejecting it outright, she smiled. "Senior Brother, do you have something you want to ask me?"
"The inter-sect competition is starting soon. I still haven't confirmed a team leader."
Whenever someone started a sentence like that, it was rarely good news. Before Jian Dan could reply, Jian Li added, "Jian Wan wants to be the team leader."
"Oh."
Now she got it. Since they had dared target Yue Liang, she wouldn't stoop to bullying juniors. But taking it out on their elders? That was fair game.
Jian Dan thought it over. This might be worth considering. Yue Liang rolled her eyes, then messaged her. "Zhūnzhǔ, he's tricking you into leading the team. He doesn't want Jian Wan to do it, but can't say no directly. So now he's using Yue Liang as a reason to push you into it."
"Yue Liang, you're both beautiful and wise. That analysis was perfect."
Flattered, Yue Liang happily squinted her eyes and wagged her fluffy tail.
Jian Dan turned to Jian Li. "Alright. I'll take the job."
Jian Li had expected a longer negotiation. He was surprised by how quickly she agreed.
"Good. I'll have Jian Sheng bring you the task token later."
"Senior Brother, lend me Jian Sheng for a few days. The monks from Buddhist Sect, Le Kong and Le Chen, will be visiting me soon."
"This is about Yunzhong Temple?"
"Partially. Mostly, I want Jian Sheng to gather some information. I don't trust that side."
Hearing this, Jian Li dropped the jokes. He replied seriously, "I'll assign Jian Sheng to you for the time being. If you need anything, have him do it."
"I'll leave it to you then, Senior Brother."
With everything settled, Jian Dan stood and gave a polite bow. She waved at Yue Liang. "Let's go."
Yue Liang put her front paws together, gave Jian Li a respectful salute, then leapt into Jian Dan's arms as they exited the side hall.
At the entrance, they ran into Jian Sheng, who had just been summoned back. Jian Dan smiled at him. "Jian Sheng, don't think I don't know it was you who suggested to Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ that I should lead the team."
The usually stern Jian Sheng looked a little sheepish, but still answered calmly, "Zhūnzhǔ, you misunderstand."
Jian Dan flicked her sleeve, already walking away as she replied, "It's fine. I've already agreed. Come find me at Tianyue Peak tomorrow."
"Yes."
Jian Sheng accepted the order but was left scratching his head. He wanted to ask what she needed, but by the time he looked up, Jian Dan had vanished.
He could only head back in confusion to meet with Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ.
After leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, Jian Dan made a turn toward the Affairs Hall. As always, Yu Yuanhai was the one who greeted her.
"Steward Yu, I'd like to redeem a pill."
Yu Yuanhai had been sorting jade slips. Hearing the voice, he looked up and immediately stood to bow. Jian Dan, with Yue Liang on her shoulder, stood at the counter.
"Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ, which pill would you like to redeem?"
With a personal visit like this, it was probably urgent. Yu Yuanhai quickly ran through the inventory in his head, wondering if he could provide it—or if he'd need to contact the Pill Sect.
"I'd like a Ding Yan Pill."
"Yes. Wait, what?"
Yu Yuanhai thought he misheard. He reflexively asked again, then realized that was rude.
"You didn't mishear. I want a Ding Yan Pill. Do you have one?"
"Yes."
"Good. I want the highest grade. No pill toxins."
"Understood."
Jian Dan casually tossed him a medium-grade storage pouch, filled with high-grade spirit stones.
"If that's not enough, I'll give you more."
"Alright."
Yu Yuanhai took the pouch and entered the inner hall. A short while later, he returned and handed Jian Dan a white porcelain bottle.
"Much appreciated."
Jian Dan took the pill and returned to Tianyue Peak.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the sect, Jian Wan Zhūnzhǔ had just learned that Jian Li had assigned the task of leading the inter-sect competition to the little-known Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ.
She immediately rushed to the Law Enforcement Hall.
===
定颜丹 (Dìngyán Dān)
定 (dìng) → "stabilize," "fix"
颜 (yán) → "appearance," "face"
丹 (dān) → "pill," "elixir"
Based on the hanzi, I think this pill is used for:
Halts aging (freezes the user's current appearance) and maintains youthful looks